Fluid propelling system

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to improvements in systems for propelling fluids i.e., gas and/or liquids. A system according to this invention comprises: a first reservoir filled with a liquid; a second reservoir preferably above said first reservoir, a duct connecting the bottom of said first reservoir to the top of said second reservoir; driving means, for feeding power into the system fluid, disposed in such duct; and an injector connecting the bottom of said second reservoir to the bottom of said first reservoir and extending for a short length into the inlet of said duct connecting the bottom of said first reservoir to the top of said second reservoir.

United States Patent 1 Affri et al.

[451 May 1, 1973 [54] FLUID PROPELLING SYSTEM [76] Inventors: Ambrogio Affri; Giovanni Affri,

both of Via Campo dei Fiori 26, Induno, Italy [22] Filed: May 4, 1971 [21] Appl.N0.: 140,188

[56] 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Elling ..417/77 X Worn ..417/158 l I I I I n I l 1 I I 1 r 1 a s, I, I u I I Primary Examiner-Carlton R. Croyle Assistant ExaminerRichard E. Gluck Attorney-Karl F. Ross [57] ABSTRACT This invention relates to improvements in systems for propelling fluids i.e., gas and/or liquids. A system according to this invention comprises: a first reservoir filled with a liquid; a second reservoir preferably above said first reservoir, a duct connecting the bottom of said first reservoir to the top of said second reservoir; driving means, for feeding power into the system fluid, disposed in such duct; and an injector connecting the bottom of said second reservoir to the bottom of said first reservoir and extending for a short length into the inlet of said duct connecting the bottom of said first reservoir to the top of said second reservoir.

12 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY H915 Ambrogio AFFRI, Giovanni Am INVENTOR BY 5w g- Attorney FLUID PROPELLING SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improvements to devices for propelling fluids. More specifically it relates to a system adapted to provide high vacuums and high pressures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The system according to the invention may be advantageously used in many fields wherein high-vacuum, suction'of fluids from sources at levels involving almost theoretical heads, transformation of fluid-column power into mechanical power, hydraulic power transmission with stabilizing effect and the like, are required.

A system according to this invention comprises essentially: a motor feeding energy into the system, such motor being any pump or other source of a current of fluid; a first reservoir or low-pressure reservoir; a second reservoir or high-pressure reservoir, preferably disposed above said first reservoir; an injector providing a fluid flowtherethrough from the high-pressure reservoir to the low-pressure reservoir; and a duct merging from the bottom of the first reservoir where it surrounds for a short distance the injector outlet connecting the bottom of the first reservoir to the top of the second reservoir. Provision is made for a quantity of liquid to be contained in the first reservoir whereby the inlet of said duct is constantly kept submerged in the heart of the fluid contained in the first reservoir.

A system according to the invention may be used for propelling fluids, i.e., liquids and gas. However, operation of the system involves the presence therein of a minimum quantity of liquid. If the fluid to be propelled is a liquid, such function is provided by the same; on the other hand, if the fluid to be propelled is a gas, an operating liquid, a suitable liquid for the particular gas to be propelled such as, water, oil, mercury and the like, is used.

If the system is to be used as an air pumping system, a passage through the lower pressure reservoir wall is connected to vacuum tubing; if the system is to be used as a liquid pump the top of the low pressure reservoir is connected by tubing to the liquid to be pumped and the top of the high pressure reservoiris connected to a discharge pipe; if the system is to be used as a fluid power transmission means, a prime mover, e.g., a turbine, is connected with its outlet through a discharge pipe to the low pressure reservoir and with its inlet through an inlet pipe to the high pressure reservoir.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Consequently, one of the objects of this invention is to provide a self primed fluid propelling system wherein valve means are dispensed with.

Another scope of this invention is to provide a self primed fluid propelling system free from valve means and adapted operate continuously without dead-center pauses etc.

A further object of this invention is to provide a selfprimed fluid propelling system adapted to exhaust spaces ofa greater volume than that of the reservoirs of the system.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a self primed fluid propelling system adapted to transmit mechanical and/or hydraulic power wherein a part of the energy transmitted is accumulated in the form of exhausted space which provides a stabilizing device adapted to accumulate energy when the utilizer is not absorbing all the input power and/or the latter exceeds the output power.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a fluid propelling system, according to this invention and adapted to a variety of uses.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a fluid propelling system, according to this invention adapted to transmit mechanical and/or hydraulic power from a driving means, e.g., a turbine to a prime move, e.g., a turbine.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION With reference to the annexed drawing, according to this invention, a fluid propelling system comprises a fluid lower pressure reservoir 1 and a fluid higher pres sure reservoir 2 preferably resting over reservoir 1. According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a single tank 7 may be made with a partition wall 12 to provide two separate spaces.

An outlet port is provided at the center of the partition wall 12 and from the bottom of partition wall a pipe 3 connected with the port extends downwardly to provide an injector. In fact, such a pipe 3 is tapered to provide a nozzle 30. The bottom end of nozzle 30 is surrounded by the inlet end of sleeve 4 which pierces the bottom wall 10 of the reservoir 1 and rises for a short distance in the lower pressure reservoir 1. The upper end of sleeve 4 is tapered as at 40. g

A funnel-like deflector 31 is mounted so as to surround the injector 3 at a short distance from its nozzle 30. Deflector 31 is, in turn, surrounded by a net crown 31'. An inlet port 22 is provided in the upper end of the wall of reservoir 2. The higher pressure reservoir 2 is provided also with an outlet port 23 which in the embodiment of FIG. 1 is through the upper wall,while in the embodiment of FIG. 2 is through the sidewall close to the bottom end thereof. The upper end of the sidewall of reservoir 1 is provided with an inlet port 13. A pipe embodying a propelling means 5 connects the sleeve 4 to the inlet port 22.

The propelling means 5 may be a pump such as a centrifugal pump, plunger pump, a gear pump and the like driven by any motor. Alternatively the propelling means 5 can comprise a high speed fluid current (not shown).

Referring now particularly to FIG. 2 of the drawings a pipe 6, embodying a utilizer, such as a turbine 60, possibly driving other utilizers (not shown), connects the outlet port 23 to the inlet port 13.

The operation of common system parts of FIGS. 1 and 2 will be first described. In steady state the system is filled with a liquid at least to a level q, whereby the volume of the liquid provided over the outlet sleeve upper end 40 is at least equal to the internal volume of pipe 22. Preferably, the system is filled with liquid up to a level L, i.e., up to the base of port 13.

In these conditions the propelling means or pump is thoroughly primed, that is, in a position to give the maximum output.

A motor (not shown) coupled to the propelling means 5 is now started. The propelling means, e.g., a centrifugal pump draws the liquid from reservoir through duct 40 and discharges it upwardly through the inlet port 22 into the reservoir 2 and possibly out therefrom through the outlet port 23. The liquid dropped into the reservoir 2 flows down through the injector duct 3 and through its nozzle. The liquid flow through the nozzle 30 reaches a very high speed due to the pressure in the liquid contained in the reservoir 2 as well to the suction provided at the inlet 40 of sleeve 4. Preferably, the inlet end of sleeve 4 is spaced from the nearest wall by Vs to /2 of the minimum horizontal dimension of the reservoir, i.e., in the case of a cylindrical reservoir having a length greater than its diameter, by /e to /2 this diameter.

The liquid drawn in part from reservoir 1 by the propelling means 5 and in part entrained by the high speed flow through injector 3 is directed by deflector 31 through inlet 40 and possible air bubbles are eliminated by net 31.

The system according to this invention will be now described more specifically with reference to particular uses of same.

If the system is to be used as an air pump a thick 7 liquid, such as oil, mercury and the like will be used to fill it up to the level L. In this instance the inlet port 13 is connected to the space or tubing to be exhausted.

With a system of the kind shown in FIG. 1 a pressure of 10 Torr. was obtained. This high vacuum condition is not obtained if the sleeve 4 length is not within the aforesaid limits.

While it is not completely understood, it is believed that the phenomenon of molecular cohesion would cause the liquid to detach from reservoir walls particularly from the side-walls so that air leaks may compromise the high vacuum condition otherwise obtainable.

If the system, shown in FIG. I, is to be used to raise a liquid a part thereof operates as an operating liquid. In this instance the inlet port 13 is connected through a duct (not shown) to a liquid source.

When the liquid to be raised is water such source may be at a far lower level, e.g., 10 meters thereunder.

Furthermore the outlet port 23 is connected through a duct (not shown) to the higher level to which it is desired to raise the liquid.

If the system is to be used as a power transmission device an embodiment of the type shown in FIG. 2 is provided.

The liquid pumped by the propelling means 5 into the reservoir 2 is forced through the outlet port 23 into the pipe 13 and turbine 60, driving the same. However, driving of turbine 60 is provided not only by the liquid forced therethrough but also by the suction provided by the exhausted space within reservoir 1. The vacuum space set about in the upper section of reservoir 1 provides an anciliary source of energy. In other words the vacuum space provides a stabilizer for the system. In

fact, if the propelling means 5 draws from reservoir 1 a higher volume of liquid than that entering the same the vacuum space (and effect) is increased;

While this invention has been described respect to a number of specific embodiments, it is obvious that there are other variations and modifications which can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A fluid propelling system comprising a first reservoir filled with liquid; a second reservoir resting over said first reservoir; a duct connecting the bottom of said first reservoir to the top of said second reservoir; propelling means for displacing the system fluid through an injector connecting the bottom of said second reservoir to the bottom of said first reservoir and extending for a short length into the inlet of said duct.

2. The fluid propelling system of claim 1 wherein said propelling means is a pump.

3. The fluid propelling system of claim 1 wherein said propelling means includes a duct delivering a high speed, high pressure fluid to said duct.

4. The fluid propelling system of claim 1 wherein said duct connecting the bottom of said first reservoir to the top of said second reservoir is provided with an inlet end which extends upwardly from the bottom of said first reservoir.

5. The fluid propelling system of claim 4 wherein said inlet end of the duct connecting the bottom of said first reservoir to the top of said second reservoir extends upwardly from the bottom of said first reservoir by distance ranging from Vs to /2 of the height thereof.

6. The fluid propelling system of claim 4 wherein said inlet end of the duct connecting the bottom of said first reservoir to the top of said second reservoir is tapered.

7. The fluid propelling system of claim 1, further comprising a funnel-like deflector enveloping said injector.

8. The fluid propelling system of claim 1, further comprising a porous ring surrounding said injector.

9. The fluid propelling system of claim 1 wherein said injector connecting the bottom of said second reservoir to the bottom of said first reservoir has an outlet bottom nozzle which is tapered.

10. The fluid propelling system of claim 1 wherein said first reservoir is supplied with a quantity of fluid at least sufficient to fill said duct.

11. A fluid propelling system comprising a system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the top of said first reservoir is connected to a space to be exhausted.

12. A fluid propelling system adapted to be used as a liquid pump comprising a system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the top of said first reservoir is connected to a source of liquid to be drawn and the top of said second reservoir is connected to a location at which the liquid is to be discharged. 

1. A fluid propelling system comprising a first reservoir filled with liquid; a second reservoir resting over said first reservoir; a duct connecting the bottom of said first reservoir to the top of said second reservoir; propelling means for displacing the system fluid through an injector connecting the bottom of said second reservoir to the bottom of said first reservoir and extending for a short length into the inlet of said duct.
 2. The fluid propelling system of claim 1 wherein said propelling means is a pump.
 3. The fluid propelling system of claim 1 wherein said propelling means includes a duct delivering a high speed, high pressure fluid to said duct.
 4. The fluid propelling system of claim 1 wherein said duct connecting the bottom of said first reservoir to the top of said second reservoir is provided with an inlet end which extends upwardly from the bottom of said first reservoir.
 5. The fluid propelLing system of claim 4 wherein said inlet end of the duct connecting the bottom of said first reservoir to the top of said second reservoir extends upwardly from the bottom of said first reservoir by distance ranging from 1/8 to 1/2 of the height thereof.
 6. The fluid propelling system of claim 4 wherein said inlet end of the duct connecting the bottom of said first reservoir to the top of said second reservoir is tapered.
 7. The fluid propelling system of claim 1, further comprising a funnel-like deflector enveloping said injector.
 8. The fluid propelling system of claim 1, further comprising a porous ring surrounding said injector.
 9. The fluid propelling system of claim 1 wherein said injector connecting the bottom of said second reservoir to the bottom of said first reservoir has an outlet bottom nozzle which is tapered.
 10. The fluid propelling system of claim 1 wherein said first reservoir is supplied with a quantity of fluid at least sufficient to fill said duct.
 11. A fluid propelling system comprising a system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the top of said first reservoir is connected to a space to be exhausted.
 12. A fluid propelling system adapted to be used as a liquid pump comprising a system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the top of said first reservoir is connected to a source of liquid to be drawn and the top of said second reservoir is connected to a location at which the liquid is to be discharged. 